Gus Giordano

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Gus Giordano was the mastermind of jazz dance. His unique style influenced not only his generation but every generation thereafter. From the moment Giordano started dancing he knew that dance was his calling, and we are very fortunate that this is true. Jazz dance evolved as Giordano grew up and learned more about dance. Hopefully through this article you will learn to better understand and appreciate Gus Giordano, the founder of jazz dance.

Gus Giordano was born in St. Louis in 1924. At the age of five, Giordano was introduced to the world of dance by his cousin who lived in New Orleans. He taught Giordano the “The Shoeshiner’s Drag.” That momentous trip to New Orleans to see his cousin hooked Giordano on dance. After that trip Giordano returned home to St. Louis and studied with local dance teacher Minette Buchman whom he credits for early dance training. He also studied with vocal teachers as well as guest artists visiting his area. Giordano took classes in ballet and theater dance. As a legend in the world of jazz dance, you would think that he grew up taking jazz; however, in 1928, there was no ‘jazz dance’ for Giordano to take. This is one reason that we call Gus Giordano one of the founders of jazz dance; because he was one of the first to choreograph and teach to jazz music.

Giordano continued to dance throughout his childhood and into World War II when he joined the Marines. In the Marines, he was assigned to a performing group that put on shows at the Hollywood Canteen and military bases around the country. After the war, Giordano left the service and moved to New York City where he searched for a Broadway job. During this time, he studied with people like Hanya Holm, Katherine Dunham and Alwin Nikolais. He also joined a dance group at Roxy Theater where they performed four shows a day. Giordano did not make it onto Broadway, so he returned to St. Louis to finish college. While in St. Louis, he met his wife Peg whom he married in Detroit after closing a show. After college, Giordano moved back to New York City. After six months of auditioning, Giordano landed a job in the Broadway musical “Wish You Were Here.” He also performed in “Paint Your Wagon,” “On the Town” and several television variety shows. Giordano enjoyed the work but did not find it fulfilling. He said once “If you were in Oklahoma and it ran nine years, you made that your career.” Giordano did not want this kind of lifestyle, so when Peg got pregnant they decided to move out of the city.

Giordano found out that the equity office was in need of someone to stage a film festival in Chicago; he applied and was accepted. In 1953, Gus Giordano moved back to Chicago and opened a dance studio where he could teach and choreograph. His students included many people from Northwestern University, a college close by. Giordano taught dance at his studio and staged the film festival at the same time. Giordano’s technique was based in modern, learned from his teacher Dunham, his class begins with strong floor work gained from another of his teachers Hanya Holm. He emphasizes strength from the start of class. He adds his own “undulating movement that emanated from the pelvis and rolled through the chest and arms.” In the mid 1970s, Giordano complied his teachings and techniques into what we now consider one of the most influential books on jazz dance. Gus Giordano is considered one of the forefathers of jazz dance. His technique and style have shaped today’s modern jazz dance.

Ten years after his studio opened, a dance critic asked Giordano to perform with his classes for visiting Bolshoi Ballet dancers who wanted to see what jazz dance looked like. Giordano took his senior students and choreographed a number for them to perform. The students did such an amazing job that they were invited to tour Russia the next year. Thus, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, his company, was born. His company is still a top jazz performance group today and is run by his daughter Nan Giordano. To become part of the company, you have to first study at the school then spend apprenticeship time with the company and then be invited to join the first company. The apprenticeship time is spent in Giordano’s ‘second’ company. The second company travels with the first company and performs in large pieces. They also put on community outreach programs and travel on their own.

Giordano has worked in every field there is; he was a performer on and off Broadway, in television, film and stage, and he is a master teacher, a gifted choreographer, founder of his company, creator of the Jazz Dance World Congress and an author of the first book on jazz dance. He has taught world renowned dancers in schools such as the American Ballet Theater and, he has choreographed award winning numbers for television, film, stage, commercials and industrials. In 1980, his television show The Rehearsal won an Emmy, the PBS award and the Ohio State award. Giordano is truly one of the creators of jazz dance, helping sculpt jazz into what it is today.